John Ambrose Sr., Chris Young & Steve Tooker to Receive Riverhead Wall of Fame Honors May 28th

Three lifelong Town of Riverhead residents who all found much success at Riverhead Raceway over the years will be enshrined on the Cromarty Wall of Fame Saturday evening May 28th. Car owner John Ambrose Sr., NASCAR Modified standout Chris Young, and multi time Late Model champion Steve Tooker will be enshrined. Ambrose and Young will be honored posthumously with their families on hand, with Tooker looking forward to being on hand for the ceremony.

John Ambrose Sr. fielded the potent and always immaculate black and gold trimmed #7-11 Modifieds at Riverhead Raceway finding much success with Joe Krukowski as his driver winning the titles in 1969, 1972 and 1975. John’s son Junior also drove the family owned Modified taking down his fair share of victories in the car before moving to Texas. The restored 7-11 Coupe should be at the track with it’s new proud owner Bob Krollage.

Ranked fourth on the all time win list with 33 career NASCAR Modified wins the working man’s racer Chris Young will be placed on the Cromarty Wall of Fame not only for that accomplishment but also his Figure Eight prowess at the track. Young scored 7 wins and two Figure Eight titles in 1976 and 1977 at Riverhead before moving up to the NASCAR Modifieds. Chris also had much sucess in both classes at the famed Islip Speedway as well with the Modern Stocks at the New Egypt Speedway in New Jersey.

For Steve Tooker his Riverhead Raceway career went full circle as he started out as the chief starter at the quarter mile oval prior to embarking on his successful driving career. Steve scored some 30 career Late Model wins placing him 4th on that all time win list and he dominated in the late 90’s winning titles in 1996, ’98 & ’99. After his racing was done Steve returned to the role of NASCAR Official at the track serving as a Co-Chief Steward through the 2015 season.

The entire May 28th program will have a very nostalgic feel to it as aside from the Cromarty Wall of Fame inductions the Vintage Midget Racing Club and Vintage Race Cars will be on hand and on track. Also for the first time after a decades long absence on Long Island, the NEMA Midgets along with the NEMA Lites will be in action with the Midgets running the Allan Cantor Memorial by IGA Food Markets.

The NASCAR Modifieds will compete in a 40-lap feature event while the Riverhead Modified Crates and Legend Race Cars will race in 20-lap main events. Features will go green at 6:30 pm.

Sunday afternoon the Memorial Day weekend doubleheader will conclude with the Spring Showdown Enduro program complete with a 30-lap, time trial Blunderbust event on the card. The May 29th Enduro show will start at 12:30 pm. Six Enduro divisions will be in action.

Source: Bob Finan/Riverhead Raceway PR